Deadline is Dec. 15 for 2018 coverage

Dec. 15 is the deadline to sign up for 2018 coverage, and plans begin Jan. 1, 2018. Marylanders who are eligible for Medicaid or have recently experienced certain life events can enroll year-round. Maryland Health Connection is the only place for Marylanders to access federal tax credits to lower the cost of insurance. Nine out of 10 Maryland Health Connection enrollees this year received financial support to offset some or all of their costs.

“We urge all Marylanders without health coverage to check out the website and the plans this year, even if they’ve looked before and chose not to enroll,” said Dr. Howard Haft, interim executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, which runs Maryland Health Connection. “From what they’ve heard and read, many may be surprised to find plans comparable to or even cheaper than a year ago, if they qualify for financial help.”

Advertisements to “see health care differently” will appear on TV, radio, print and out-of-home advertising across the state to stress the importance of having health coverage to be able to access quality medical care and to counter the risk of large, unexpected medical bills.

They can apply through the “Enroll MHC” mobile app available free in the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android). More than 160,000 during the past year have downloaded the app, the most popular of any state health exchange in the country. Users can upload verification documents with the camera on their mobile device.

Hundreds of insurance brokers and navigators are available for free expert advice. You can find their locations and contact information at MarylandHealthConnection.gov/help or through the mobile app.

Twenty “Beat The Rush” events with experts providing free assistance to help people will be held at various locations around the state this upcoming weekend Nov. 3-5. See MarylandHealthConnection.gov/BeatTheRush for times and locations.

Consumers can also call toll-free 1-855-642-8572 (Deaf and hard of hearing use Relay service) to reach the consumer support center. It offers assistance in more than 200 languages, as well as Relay services for the deaf and hard of hearing. During open enrollment, the call center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Maryland has made major strides in helping uninsured residents get coverage during the past several years.

The percentage of residents without health insurance fell to an all-time low of 6.1 percent in 2016. --U.S. Census Bureau

Prior to 2010, about 720,000 Marylanders lacked health insurance. Through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Maryland, roughly 400,000 have coverage -- 290,000 through Medicaid expansion and more than 100,000 in subsidized private health plans.

About Maryland Health Connection

Maryland Health Connection is Maryland’s official health insurance marketplace for individuals and families to compare plans and enroll in health and dental coverage. It’s the only place to get financial help with health insurance. See if you qualify for financial help like tax credits or Medicaid/MCHP to make health insurance more affordable.